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'Wing seal caused tragedy'

Houston April 23. A seal from the space shuttle Columbia's left wing was apparently the mystery object that floated away in orbit and it was almost certainly struck by something — like a chunk of foam — before it came off, accident investigators said.

The investigators also said numerous defects have been found in insulating foam on a fuel tank practically identical to the one on Columbia. The shuttle programme head, Robin B. Dittemore, resigned today.

AP

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